Mass Depopulation & Euthanasia

1. Mass Depopulation & Euthanasia Swine Euthanasia

2. Euthanasia and Depopulation FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Euthanasia • Transitioning painlessly and stress-free as possible • Mass Depopulation • Large numbers, quickly and efficiently • Consideration to welfare as practicable • Terms used interchangeably here

3. Euthanasia and Depopulation FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • May be practiced during an animal health emergency • Goals of Euthanasia • Provide humane treatment • Select acceptable method • Minimize negative emotional impact • Safeguard food chain • Prevent or mitigate disease spread

4. Handling FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Goal: Humane Treatment • Decrease animal stress, excitement • Do not force animals to travel quickly • Avoid electric prods • Sorting boards • Human body position • Flight zones • Flags and plastic paddles • Handle animals quietly

5. General Handling FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine Flight Zone, Point of Balance, Blind Spot

6. Acceptable Methods FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Acceptable: noninhalant injectable • Acceptable for all classes of pigs • Barbiturates • Barbituricacid derivatives

7. Conditionally Acceptable Methods FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Physical • Captive bolt • Penetrating- mature and grower-finisher • Non-penetrating- nursery, suckling • Gunshot (mature, grower-finisher) • Electrocution (mature, grower-finisher, nursery, suckling >10 lbs) • Blunt force trauma (suckling pigs) • Inhaled agents

8. Adjunct Methods FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • If primary euthanasia fails, personnel should be prepared to apply an adjunct measure such as: • Pithing • Exsanguination • Second shot

9. Chemical Agents FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Usually impractical • Individual handling/restraint • Expensive • Carcass disposal • Recordkeeping • May be used if animal is hand-raised

10. Chemical Agents FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Major drawbacks • Volume of agent required • Difficulty of suitable venous access • Carcass disposal issues • Prolonged restraint time needed

11. Physical- Carbon Dioxide FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Protocols under development • Endorsed for smaller swine • Up to 70lbs (32kg) • Impractical for larger animals/farms • Safety of personnel • Training • Equipment

12. Physical- Captive Bolt FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Use appropriate restraint • Methods • Young pigs • Firm holding, body sling • Lifting with two contact points • Larger pigs • Center-line conveyor • Snaring individually

13. Aiming Captive Bolt FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Pigs <300 lbs • Middle of forehead; 0.5-1 in. above eyes • Mature pigs: sows, boars • Adjust target area • Use correct size bolt, charge • Adjunct method on hand

14. Single Step Captive Bolt FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Under development • Euthanizes in one step • Interchangeable captive bolts for different size animals • Various lengths, thicknesses, charges

15. Non-Penetrating Captive Bolt FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Lethal concussive trauma • Up to 12 lbs – primary euthanasia • Up to 70 lbs– use with adjunct step • Lethal concussive trauma • Positioning same as captive bolt • Not recommended >70 lbs

16. Captive Bolt: Effects FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Immediate collapse, postural rigidity, gradual relaxation • Involuntary kicking and paddling • Insensible pigs: • Lack corneal reflex • No deliberate movement • No rhythmic breathing • If in doubt: re-stun, adjunct method

17. Physical- Gunshot FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Trained, experienced personnel • Follow safety guidelines • At close range, same point of entry as captive bolt • Muzzle NEVER in contact with head • Mature animal skulls may be more difficult to penetrate • Use appropriate ammunition

18. Physical- Gunshot (cont’d) FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Long range gunshot generally unacceptable • If necessary • Point of entry between eye and base of ear • Do not target chest, neck • Risk of free bullets and human injuries

19. Physical- Electrocution FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Method has been successfully used • Stunning and death • Electric current directly through head and heart • 15 seconds to achieve death • Head stunning • Electrodes on sides of head • 2-3 seconds for proper stun • Unconscious for 30 sec • Adjunct method within 15 sec

20. Confirmation of Death FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • Confirmation of death can be difficult • Sustained lack of heartbeat and respiration • Rigor mortis • Evaluate by competent, experienced personnel

21. For More Information FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine • FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines& SOP: Mass Depopulationand Euthanasia (MDE) (2011) • http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/ • MDE web-based training module • http://naherc.sws.iastate.edu/

22. Guidelines Content FAD PReP/NAHEMS Guidelines: MDE-Swine Authors (CFSPH): • ReneéDewell DVM,MS • Nichollette Rider, Veterinary Student Significant contributions to the content were provided by USDA APHIS VS: • Lori P. Miller, PE • Darrel K. Styles, DVM, PhD

23. Acknowledgments Development of this presentation was by the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University through funding from the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services PPT Authors: Dawn Bailey, BS; Kerry Leedom Larson, DVM, MPH, PhD, DACVPM • Reviewers: Glenda Dvorak, DVM, MPH, DACVPM: Cheryl L. Eia, JD, DVM, MPH, Patricia Futoma, BS, Veterinary Student, ReneéDewell DVM,MS